Rotary engine



Aug. 5, 1930. R. c. G. STAATS-OELS ROTARY ENGINE Filed Feb. 6, 1928 N (HHHHIEIIIHM? INVENTOR P000; P C. G- STHHT5-0Q A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1930 UNETE ROTARY ENGINE Application filed February 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,077.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines, and has particular reference to an engine of the rotary type such as disclosed in my Patent N 1,659,172, dated February 1a, 1928.

The invention of said patent provides construction in which a rotary impeller and reaction vane are utilized to form a combustion chamber and wherein the vane is rotated 19 by the injection of'compressed air into the engine cylinder, after the explosion of .a combustible mixture in said chamber, to scavenge the burnt gases from the cylinder.

In accordance with the present invention,

a reaction vane is employed in con-juncti n with a rotary impeller to form a combustion chamber and is actuated by said impeller to a position to permit passage of the latter, up n each explosion and consequent revolut on.

and is thereafter restored to its chamberforming position under the influence of gravity and the gases exhausting from the engine cylinder.

Further, the invention contemplates the 2 provision of an exhaust chamber which the reaction vane is mounted for oscillatory movement and adapted, in one of its positions, to project into the engine cylinder and combine with the rotary impeller therein to form 2s a combustion chamber, said vane being forced into said exhaust chamber by the rotation of the impeller to permit passage of the latter, and thereafter restored to its first posi tion by gravity and the pressure of exhaust gases in the latter chamber.

he inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for purposes of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing;

but it is to be expressly understood that said drawing is merely used for the purpose of facilitating the description as a whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the engine cylinder taken on the line 11 of Figure 4;

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the impeller reaction vane in position to form a combustion chamber; and p 7 Figure 4 is a similar section showing the reaction vane moved to its retracted position by contact of the impeller therewith, the. parts assuming this positionfollowing an explosion of the mixture in the combustion chamber. I

The engine is shown as comprising a jacketed cylinder 5 having the heads 6 and 7 at opposite ends thereof. The latter head is provided with an inlet port 8 through which the combustible mixture flows into the cylinder from pipe 9 which is connected to a suitable compressor (not shown) for the combustible mixture. Any desirable means, such as disclosed in the above mentioned patent, may be employed to control the flow of the combustible mixture into the cylinder. 7

Journaled in the heads 6 and 7 isthe rotary shaft 10 and keyed to this shaft is the sleeve portion 11 of the rotary impeller 12 which extends the length of the cylinder 5. End plates 13 and 1% are formed integrally with the ends of the sleeve portion 11 and rotate with the shaft so that the slot 15 adjacent the periphery of the plate 141- will come into regis tration with the inlet port 8 upon each revolution of the shaft 10 so as to admit mixture into the cylinder behind the impeller 12, as indicated in Figure 3. Said impeller is provided in its peripheral surface with a plurality of packing strips 16 extending longitudinally thereof and communicating with the inner surfaces of each of the strips 16 is a passage 17 for the admission of pressure caused by the ignition of the combustible mixture so that said strips 16 will be forced outwardly into engagement with the inner wall of the cylinder.

There is arranged on oneside of the cylinder 5 an exhaust chamber 18 which communicates with the cylinder through ports 19 9; so that the burnt, gases from the cylinder will pass into said chamber preparatory to being exhausted through the outlet port 20. A stationary shaft 21 extends longitudinally of the chamber 18 adjacent the lower portion thereof and mounted for oscillation upon this shaft is a reaction vane 22 which cooperates with the impeller 12, when the vane is in the position shown in Figure 3, to form a combustion chamber 23 between said parts. The movement of the vane 22 into its projected position within the cylinder is limited by en agement of the curved surface 24 thereor with the sleeve 11 of the impeller and also by contact of the projection 25 of said vane with the wall of the cylinder just above the ports 19. l/Vhen in this position the vane uncovers the exhaust port 20 and permits'any burnt gases within the chamber 18 to pass into the atmosphere. This position of the vane and its formation is such that, when the impeller 12 has moved sufiiciently far to admit the combustible mixture into the chamber 23 and has passed the igniter or spark plug 26 which then ignites said mixture, the

consequent pressure caused by the explosion of'said mixture will not move the vane 22 about its pivot and will, therefore, operate torcvolve the impeller in the cylinder. The lower edge'of the vane 22 being disposed in the path of movement of the impeller will be contacted by the forward edge of the latter as the same approaches the completion of its revolution and will be forced, by said contact, to move about its pivot into the exhaust chamber 18 where it assumes the position shownin Figure 1. After the rear surface of the impeller 12 has passed the ports 19 communication is established between the cylinder and chamber 18 so that some of the burnt gases can enter the latter. Such gases willnot, however, escape through the port- 20 at this time as said port is closed by the vane 22. With said vane constructed and mounted so that its center of gravity is'disposed inwardly of a vertical plane passing through shaft 21, as soon as the rear surface of the impeller 12 passes the upperedge of said vane the latter will start, by its own weight, to move toward its former position as shown in Figure 3. .As it projects itself into the cylinder, the vane starts to uncover the port 20 but said port remains closed until the vane has practically reached'its position in Figure 3. During this movement of the vane, the impeller continues its rotation and in so doing forces the exhaust gases ahead of it and out through the port 19 into the chamber. There is thereby created a pressur in said chamber which acts against the vane to assist the same in its inward movement, said pressure continuinguntil the port 20 is uncovered.

What is claimed is:

In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotary impeller therein, an oscillatory reaction vane movable into said cylinder to cooperate with said impeller in forming a combustion chamand an exhaust chamber into which said vane is moved by contact of the impeller therewith to permit the latter to pass the vane during revolution of the impeller, said eX- haust chamber having communication with said cylinder whereby the burnt gases enter said chamber and exert'pressure upon said vane to aid in projecting the same into said cylinder after passage of the impeller, and said exhaust chamber having an outlet closed by said vane only when the latter has been moved into said chamber by said impellerQ gases from the latter are exhausted, the pres- I sure of said gases in the exhaust chamber aiding to restore said vane to chamber-forming position,and said exhaust chamber having an outlet closed by said vane only when the latter has been moved into said chamberby said impeller.

In testimony whereof I have afixed my signature.

RUDOLPH G. G. STAATS-OELS. 

